Gear up for UP repeat in HP: Nadda

High on the party’s resounding victory in the recent polls, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda today said the stage had been set for the repeat of the BJP’s UP and Uttarakhand performance in Himachal.

Addressing party workers here, Nadda exhorted them to get into the election mode so that the BJP could wrest power from the Congress. “Let the wave of development under the BJP rule sweep the hills of Himachal,” he said. The local BJP unit welcomed Nadda even as the number of party MLAs, who turned up, was small, considering the wait-and-watch policy of legislators, as leadership issue in Himachal still remains open.

Those who welcomed Nadda included Shimla Lok Sabha MP Varinder Kashyap, MLAs Suresh Bhardwaj (Shimla), Mahender Singh (Dharampur) and Govind Ram (Arki). Former MLAs present there included Rakesh Pathania, Rajan Sushant and Khushi Ram Balnatah. Independent MLA from Chopal in Shimla Balbir Verma also met Nadda as he is all set to join the BJP.

Even as Nadda avoided making comments on any state issues, the enthusiasm among his supporters was more than evident as they tried to project him as the next Chief Minister.

However, the frequent visits of Nadda to his home state despite his pre-occupation with the affairs of the important Health and Family Welfare Ministry and national-level party matters is a clear indication of his interest in the state. He is scheduled to visit various parts at regular intervals with the Assembly polls due anytime after October.

“The foundation stone of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), proposed at Bilaspur, will be laid shortly as there are some legal wrangles in land allotment,” he said.

The Union minister said good performance of the Centre and the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been appreciated by the people. “The people identify Modi with development and it will be for everyone else to see how Uttar Pradesh will witness unprecedented development under Yogi Adityanath. He also elaborated the highlights of the National Health Policy – 2017 unveiled by his ministry.